Thoracic Pathology
Overview
Section Head: Jon H. Ritter, MD
The department has a rich history in Cardiothoracic Pathology dating back to the time of Dr. Lauren Ackerman. There have been many historic advances in Cardiothoracic medicine at Washington University, from Dr. Evarts Graham’s first successful pneumonectomy for cancer in the 1940s, to Dr. Joel Cooper and colleagues establishing the preeminent lung transplant program in the late 1980s. Throughout that time, there was vital support from a strong and nationally recognized department of Surgical Pathology that is required for clinical programs to flourish. Cardiothoracic specimens were traditionally part of the mix of General Surgical Pathology cases at WashU Medicine, but beginning in 2018, they became the province of the section of Cardiothoracic Pathology.
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Clinicians
Highlights
Cardiothoracic Pathology has three full-time faculty members who bring unique and varying areas of experience and expertise to the section. Dr. Jon H. Ritter, the Cardiothoracic pathology section head, has more than 30 years’ experience in the evaluation and sign out of Cardiothoracic neoplasms, lung transplant pathology, and interstitial lung diseases, stemming from his broad general surgical pathology experience. He is an active participant in weekly neoplastic and interstitial lung disease multidisciplinary conferences, which help in bringing clinical correlates to the evaluation of thoracic pathology specimens. Dr. Chieh-Yu Lin is a phenomenal up-and-coming faculty member, with excellent skills in the broad area of Cardiothoracic Pathology. She has a particular interest in cardiac pathology and is an active member in several international cardiac pathology working groups in the areas of cardiac transplantation and myocarditis, which is reflected in her clinical expertise. Finally, Dr. Cory Bernadt brings the unique experience of also being the Section Head of Cytopathology. Dr. Bernadt’s cytology expertise and its correlation makes him well suited to evaluate the large number of small biopsy specimens of lymph nodes and lung tissue that come through the thoracic pathology service. Drs. Ritter, Lin, and Bernadt all have significant digital pathology experience. Between the three section members, there is outstanding coverage for the broad range of specimens that fit within the definition of Cardiothoracic Pathology.
